FIFA 18 qualifiers: India vs Oman

FIFA 18 qualifiers: India vs Oman

The Indian national football squad left the capital city for a preparatory camp in Bengaluru ahead of its 2018 FIFA World Cup preliminary qualification matches against Oman and Guam. The squad conducted training sessions at the Ambedkar Stadium here before proceeding to Bengaluru. The fixture against Oman on June 11 will be played in Bengaluru at the Kanteerava Stadium, a stadium which was recently jam-packed to witness the finale between Bengaluru FC and Mohun Bagan being played out. Currently India is ranked 147 while Oman are at the 96th.

‘Spiderman’ Subrata Paul who captained in the previous two World Cup round 1 preliminary matches against Nepal stressed on the “noise from the stands.”

“Indian Football is going through a transition. If you look at our squad, it’s a whole new generation who are shaping up to take on the mantle. We need a good start and it’s not possible without the support of the fans,” he stated.

“It’s your chance to stand up for your country. Let’s put up a good show together. It’s time to make some noise. Be deafening. Back the blue.”

India have been clubbed in Group D of the qualifiers along with Iran, Oman, Turkmenistan and Guam. Coach Stephen Constantine chose a 26-member squad for the two matches from an initial list of 38 players.

The squad

Goalkeepers Subrata Pal (Salgaocar FC), Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Stabaek FC, Norway), Sanjiban Ghosh (Mumbai FC), Laishram Prem Kumar Singh (Royal Wahingdoh FC)

Defenders Rino Anto, Lalchhuanmawia (both Bengaluru FC), Reagan Singh (Royal Wahingdoh FC), L Dhanachandra Singh (Mohun Bagan AC), Arnab Mondal, Gurwinder Singh (both East Bengal Club), Sandesh Jhingan (Sporting Clube de Goa), Augustin Fernandes (Salgaocar SC)

Midfielders Cavin Lobo, Mohammed Rafique (both East Bengal Club), Eugeneson Lyngdoh, CK Vineeth (both Bengaluru FC), Jackichand Singh, Saityasen Singh (both Royal Wahingdoh FC), Sehnaj Singh (Mohun Bagan AC), Dhanapal Ganesh (Pune FC), Mandar Rao Dessai, Francis Fernandes (both Dempo SC)

Forwards Sunil Chhetri, Robin Singh (both Bengaluru FC), Holicharan Narzary (Dempo SC), Jeje Lalpekhlua (Mohun Bagan AC)